5 questions for: Janna Prosvirina!

This week it's time for our first '5 questions for....' in a long time! The wonderful Janna Prosvirina, whom many of you might know as Kuoma, has excitingly answered all the questions we had for her. Thanks Janna!

Wisteria

Janna is an amazing faerie artist who makes whimsical painting of, mostly, flower faeries. There are however also some mermaids and witches hidden within her gallery. Her use of colours and the softness of what she paints is what first drew me to her paintings. The clothing of her faeries is different every time and always attuned with the setting in which they sit, stand of fly. Her poses are very original and usually taken from her own stock-account where she shares her wonderful stock photo's with the world. She's also posted several very helpful tutorials for those artists who want to learn more about working with watercolours. Her new projects include acrylic paintings on small pieces of wood and these are just as whimsical as her watercolours.

Al right, after this brief introduction, I give you all, the interview!



the Key

1. When did you start making you beautiful paintings?

It depends on what we both call beautiful ;) I started painting fairies in the end of 2006. I wanted to progress and so I posted some of my creations online, hoping that creative people would help me to improve. I think I have acheived a level which I am happy with at the end of 2011, till that time I did not take my hobby seriously and did not call anything I created 'beautiful'.

2. What materials do you love to work with most?

I use traditional media, mostly watercolor but also colored pencils and white gouache for certain effects. I did a few acrylic paintings but it is not what I really enjoy doing all the time.

3. What scenes/creatures/etc. do you enjoy to draw or paint most?

Fairies are my favourite creatures but I enjoy painting scenery too, flowers and woodlands are my latest passion.

4. Who do you admire/is your biggest influence?

J.W Waterhouse, J. E Millais and other Pre-Raphaeliten moved me to take a brush and try to paint. Also modern painters like Brian Froud, Jessica Galbreth, Nene Thomas and of course Amy Brown I think they inspired the whole young generation of fairy artists.

5. Last but not least; do you believe in faeries?

I wish I could say "I do, I do!" like in Peter Pan movie but unfortunately I don't; at least I don't believe they are those lovely tiny creatures from children fairy-tale books we all know. Still enjoy painting them ;)

Fairy Dust

Find Janna on Deviantart or buy her wonderful prints, originals or even mugs with her paintings on her Etsy or Zazzle account!

Love and Leaves,

Marjolijn Ashara.

The Art of: Mickie Mueller

Time for another Art feature! One of my favourite artists, Mickie Mueller. I am in love with the feel of her paintings and of the amount of love and thought she puts into every piece. If I had the money, pagan paintings of her would cover every inch of my house ;) They show the way I feel about nature, paganism and witchcraft. Mickie's artwork inspires me to search, to look beyond what we see every day. Everytime I hit a rut in my craft, Mickie's inspirational art urges me to move forward. Please enjoy a few of my favourite pieces my Mickie Mueller!

Lady of the Forest

Celtic Heather

Wisdom in the Woods

Heal the Earth

Voice of the Trees Oracle - Back design

So far Mickie Mueller has done the art for three Oracle decks. The Well Worn Path and the Hidden Path, both in collaboration with Raven Grimassi. Her last Oracle deck is the Voice of the Trees oracle. This is her first solo project and boy, did she go all out. The deck is an Ogham deck and in the accompanied book she writes how she took a little piece of each tree and blended that into her paints as she painted each card. So even though you're holding paper, you're still holding a tiny piece of the tree in your hands.

For more on Mickie Mueller, check out her website, or better yet, her blog for all updates! She also has an etsy shop!

Love and Leaves,
Marjolijn Ashara

Faerie Fashion Feature - Winged Jewellery

Time for another Faerie Fashion Feature! :D I was browsing Deviantart, as I do (too/very) often and came across some wonderful winged jewellery which would look perfect in any faerie's jewellery box. It amazes me how people make these beautiful and delicate things, and all of different materials too!

Real wings encased in glass:

Real Butterfly Wing Jewelry by Bflydesigns

Delirium Butterfly Necklace by Felinocurioso37

Leather:

Faery Wing Necklace by Phee-adornments

Blue Morpho Nouveau Necklace by Angela Sasser

Wire and foil:

Blue Wings Pendant by Elvenelysium

Pink and Blue Wings Pendant by Elvenelysium

And several other materials:

These earrings were made with real beatle wings which have been treated with several layers of varnish.
Plume and Wing by S0WIL0

These beautiful earrings were made with heat-treated titatium and sterling silver.
Wings by Forgedirony

These geeky wings were made with a hard drive and a processor card. Geeky and pretty!
Butterfly Wings by the Blue Kraken

Well my flittering friends, that's it for the feature! I hope you enjoyed it!

Love and Leaves,
Marjolijn Ashara

The Art of: Selina Fenech

Time for another Art feature! This time I will share with you a few of my favourite pieces made by Selina Fenech. She is an Australian Faerie Artist and by far my favourite. I may have gotten into the Faerie art through Jessica Galbreth, Selina was the one who got me Hooked. (Yes, with capital H! ;)) Her combination of realism, soft colours and flowing lines bring a fairytale feel that most of us long for. So, get enchanted by the Art of Selina Fenech!

Along the Forest Path

Golden Gift

Guardian

His Goddess, Her God

Storykeeper

These are a select few of my favourite artworks of Selina Fenech. For more, check out her website. I'm also a proud owner of her oracle deck, the Wild Wisdom of the Faery Oracle Cards, which I use fequently and to great result. I also use them to decorate my altar, which is guarded by a statue of 'Shimmer'. Check back later for a review of her Oracle cards and much, much more! :D

Love and Leaves,
Marjolijn Ashara

The Art of Ian Daniels

Happy belated Fairy Day!!! I know, I know, shame on me for not posting anything for 10 days, but I'll make it up to you by posting two things tonight! I did have something planned for the 24th (Fairy Day), but since I had to work until midnight on the 23rd, I had other priorities, namely sleeping! But here is a beautiful Faerie Art Feature with the art of Ian Daniels.

I just started in the book 'Dark Fairies' by Dr. Bob Curran. I immediately fell in love with Ian's beautiful drawings that are featured in the book. So, I looked up his website and was happy to find that he not only makes beautiful (dark) faerie drawings and paintings, but also pagan themed art and images of myth and legend. So to honour Fairy Day here are some of my favourites from his gallery!

Dreamsleep

Greenman

Ur-Nanna

Mathonwy

Summerqueen

Ace of Skulls